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62 | SPRING 2024 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie ZUCAR GAELIC4TEENS TWO venues are hosted the eagerly-anticipated 2024 ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Festival Days. The Faithful Fields Offaly Centre of Excellence and the GAA's National Games Development Centre in Abbotstown played host to 18 clubs from 10 counties as they shared their experiences and picked up key tips from the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors. Teams descended on the Offaly venue Saturday 27th April with the remaining clubs were hosted in the Dublin venue on Monday 6th May. The participants took part in 7-a-side games, while also absorbing key messages from the ambassadors on topics including nutrition, hydration and lifestyle management. The programme benefited hugely once again from the presence of sponsors ZuCar, who are also the LGFA's Official Performance Partner and sponsors of the All-Ireland U18 Championships. Following a hugely successful pilot in 2017, Gaelic4Teens has grown Venues in Offaly and Dublin to host 2024 ZuCar Gaelic4Teens Festival Days considerably to over double in size, and this programme will help clubs to retain their current playing bases while also recruiting players in the 13-17 age bracket, which has been identified as a group with a high drop-out rate. The ZuCar Gaelic4Teens programme worked closely with coaches, influencing the content of their coaching sessions as well as establishing the best ways for coaches to communicate and engage with their players. In addition, the programme examined the coaching environments required to ensure that the long-term development of players is being facilitated in the clubs. As well as tailoring training sessions, there was a focus on education with some of the Gaelic4Teens ambassadors providing expertise and advice to participants for the duration of the programme, alongside some fellow inter-county stars. Representatives from the 20 participating clubs in the full Gaelic4Teens Programme attended six sessions delivered by the ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassadors, while also engaging with self-led modules. The clubs also received a visit from a ZuCar Gaelic4Teens ambassador or a county player to conduct a coaching session, and witness theory in action. The research that prompted the development of the Gaelic4Teens programme revealed that players play for enjoyment, to improve and get better, to keep fit and healthy, to relieve stress and because their friends also play. The reasons highlighted for giving up the sport are that they don't get enough playing time, there is no fun at training, that it is too competitive and that they are treated differently. The spectacular festival days at the Faithful Field and GAA National Games Development Centre showcased the key messaging for both players and coaches. 62 | PEIL ANNUAL 2024 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie